Rising Pune Supergiant batsman Manoj Tiwary has taken “complete blame” for not finishing the game for his team against Delhi Daredevils on Friday night, which means they can still miss out on a playoff spot. Supergiant were chasing 169 at the Feroz Shah Kotla and a win would have sealed a playoff berth, along with table-toppers Mumbai Indians. They needed 43 runs from 24 balls with Tiwary and MS Dhoni in a fifth-wicket stand but Dhoni was run out for 5 and the visitors were unable to strike a single boundary for 22 balls until the last over started.”I want to take the complete blame for that because I was the batsman who was set over there,” Tiwary said after the match. “And prior to the last over we couldn’t get any boundaries at that point of time and I was the man who was on strike and was not able to connect. But obviously, the match was in our hands at one point of time and that’s the way it happens at times.”We tried our best but we have to go back now and see what went wrong and how the batsmen could have scored more runs, find out what kind of strokes we could have played at that situation and come back harder in the next game. It’s going to be a pressure game because both the teams (Rising Pune and Kings XI Punjab) want to win and let’s see who comes best in that game.”Tiwary, who finished on 60 off 45 balls, said Dhoni “was not aware where the ball went” which led to his run-out in the 18th over, making the equation tougher for Rising Pune. Dhoni had top-edged a slower ball from Cummins towards short fine leg and had looked back immediately but only strolled for the first few steps. It was only when Dhoni realised Mohammed Shami had swooped in quickly, did he start sprinting down but a sharp direct-hit caught him a few inches short.”He (Dhoni) mentioned that he couldn’t see the ball where it went and that is the reason he couldn’t make it because [the] ball went behind [square] so he wasn’t aware where the ball went,” Tiwary explained. “But it happens, even the quickest of persons gets run-out and today was an example. It’s very rare, but yes, when things don’t go your way, things like these happen. But you must give credit to Shami as well because he took that risk of throwing and taking that chance because if that ball wouldn’t have hit the stumps [then] it would have been one more extra run.””It was a great effort by Shami to get him out,” Karun Nair said•BCCI

Shami later said he wanted to give it a try even if Dhoni is known for his quick running between the wickets. “You can say it was a game changer,” Shami said at the press conference. “Even though Mahi runs very well between the wickets I just tried that if, 50-50, it hits, then we can turn the match.”Daredevils’ Karun Nair, who top-scored with 64 off 45 and set up their score of 168 for 8, lauded Shami’s “great effort”, knowing what a threat Dhoni could be towards the end of the chase.”That was one of the turning points of the game because to get Mahi out at that time was one of the biggest moments,” Nair told . “Because if he’s there till the end he’ll finish off the game most of the time. It was a great effort by Shami to get him out.”Dhoni has struggled to get going this season and has managed only 240 runs from 13 innings so far, at a strike rate of 113.74, his worst in the 10 IPL seasons. His average of 24 so far is also his lowest in an IPL season. Tiwary defended Dhoni’s performances saying it was difficult for him to score a lot of runs since he came down the order, and still had a “lot of game left in him.””Dhoni still has a lot of time left,” Tiwary said. “And, more importantly, if he is doing so well in the present then why overthink. Obviously, in terms of runs, we should consider that he comes to bat down the order. In T20 cricket we only want the strike rate to be, say, over 120. But Mahi has done so well in the past and set such high standards that we feel that he should still be batting with the same strike rate of 130-160. But it is practically not possible.”You need to look at the circumstances too. He struck a good partnership with Ben Stokes in a game where Stokes hit a hundred. That game, if you see, what we needed most was a partnership and we got that partnership from the experienced player.”Mahi had that experience and he built that partnership. His strike rate might not have been that good but won us the game, so that is a match-winning innings, right? I always feel performances should be judged taking into account the situation of the game and then see what he is contributing to the game. That is more important, rather than the strike rate of the player. Obviously, the format is so fast that everybody wants to see sixes and fours and strike rates of 150 but it is not possible all the time. I feel he still has a lot of game left in him.”

The Schön Group, a Dubai-based enterprise well-established in the real estate business, has won the rights to the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League, and chosen Multan as its team. The deal has been confirmed by the PCB, pending legal formalities, and the contract is for eight years. The Schön Group’s owners have roots in Pakistan.As many as 30 companies, according to the PCB, showed interest in the franchise, with about 12 submitting bids. Out of these bids, only Schön made a bid high enough to meet the base price of USD 5.2 million per year. The highest bidder had the right to choose the base city for the new franchise out of Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Murad Jamali, FATA and Hyderabad.The PCB had been considering adding a sixth team to the tournament after its first season in 2016, but a contract between the PCB and the five franchises meant the expansion could take place only after the second season. The first two seasons of the PSL featured Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.These original five franchises were sold for USD 93 million for a ten-year period. Karachi became the most expensive team with the ARY Group shelling out USD 26 million to gain ownership. Lahore sold for USD 25 million to Qatar Lubricants Company (QALCO), while the Haier Group paid USD 16 million for Peshawar. The franchise from the capital, Islamabad, went to Leonine Global Sports, which is an entity created specifically for the PSL by a group of Pakistani investors, for USD 15 million. Omar Associate, a Karachi-based building company, secured Quetta for USD 11 million.In 2016, Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, had floated an idea to have a Kashmir team in the tournament, but it was rejected after opposition from some of the franchises on financial grounds and the potential for controversy given Kashmir’s sensitive status vis-a-vis India. The opposition from the franchises back then was centered around the potential cut in their share of the central revenue pool if a sixth franchise were to be created.Pakistan have been hosting the PSL in the UAE due to the security concerns of the overseas players. However, in 2017, the final was played in Lahore at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security and went off without incident. Last month, Sethi revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan in 2018, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi.

Manchester City are now eyeing a stunning move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to a recent report from The Sun.

Which midfielder are Man City signing?

With club captain Ilkay Gundogan putting pen to paper on a move to Barcelona, there is a huge gap in Man City's midfield that needs to be filled, and Declan Rice emerged as a major target, with a £90m bid being tabled earlier this week.

However, the Citizens have now pulled out of the race as they were unwilling to match Arsenal's offer of £105m, and they have now started to run the rule over other targets, including Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Veiga is not the only La Liga central midfielder that City have shown an interest in, as The Sun reports they are now mulling over a stunning £90m move for De Jong, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for quite some time.

Rivals Manchester United considered the Dutchman a major target a year ago, but he opted to remain at Camp Nou, and the report details that he is still in no major rush to leave Spain.

However, Barca want the central midfielder off the wage books, and they know that City have the money to sign a top-class midfielder, following their pursuit of Rice.

Guardiola tried to sign the 26-year-old in 2019, and the Man City manager remains a fan.

How much does Frenkie de Jong earn?

According to Capology, the former Ajax man rakes in a massive £620k-per-week at Barcelona, so it is no wonder the La Liga club are keen to get him off the wage bill, particularly considering the recent arrival of Gundogan.

Despite Barca's willingness to sanction the departure of the Netherlands international, he is thought of in high regard by manager Xavi, who described him as "spectacular" last season.

The Arkel-born midfielder certainly played his part in Barca's title-winning 2022/23 campaign, making 33 appearances in La Liga, during which time he picked up two goals and four assists.

Over the past year, the maestro has averaged an 89.5% pass-completion rate per 90, which ranks him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating he would be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system.

However, De Jong's attacking output probably does not justify a £90m outlay, particularly if he is seen as a Gundogan replacement, so Man City should initially test the waters with a much lower offer.

More than A$1 million in fortnightly payments originally intended for out-of-contract players will instead be diverted directly to grassroots funding until an MoU is reached between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association

Daniel Brettig30-Jun-20175:38

Chappell: No deal a PR disaster for players, CA

More than A$1 million (US$768,000 approx) in fortnightly payments originally intended for out-of-contract players will instead be diverted directly to grassroots funding until an MoU is reached between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA).On the final day before the expiry of the MoU unleashes a whole host of potentially chaotic scenarios – including doubt over forthcoming tours of South Africa, Bangladesh and India, a mess of commercial and sponsorship conflicts, and the possibility of a host of Australian players heading off to play overseas Twenty20 tournaments – CA underlined its hard-line stance in opposition to the players.Players had been informed earlier this week by the CA team performance manager Pat Howard that they would not be eligible for any back pay in the event of an extended dispute, a warning that was issued at the same time as a reminder that any players playing “disapproved cricket” during the dispute would face suspensions of at least six months under ICC regulations – banning them from participation in the Ashes this summer.Dispute leaves ‘bitter taste’ – Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood, the Australia fast bowler, has said the nation’s cricketers will have a “bitter taste” waking up unemployed on Saturday after the expiry of the current MoU, but were prepared to see out the dispute with Cricket Australia to reach their desired result.
“To be contracted for the best part of 10 years, nearly, for me, it’s going to be a different stage and we’ll see how it pans out,” he said. “It [pay negotiations] never got to this point before in the past. It’s going to leave a bit of a bitter taste come that date [July 1] but we are, obviously, willing to do what we need to.”
Hazlewood took issue with CA’s contention that Sheffield Shield players did not contribute to the game’s financial health. “They always seem to point out the no crowds at Sheffield Shield cricket but they always leave out the Big Bash that draws in massive crowds every game,” he said. “The Australian cricket team isn’t really a part of that to be honest. It’s solely domestic players with a couple of internationals in different teams. But they provide a great spectacle. That six weeks is just thriving with crowds… I think they would feel disrespected, definitely.”

CA announced the tactic on Friday, a matter of hours before the current MoU was due to expire at midnight, without any sign that either side of the dispute was softening in their hardened stances – namely CA’s desire to breakup the fixed revenue percentage model at the heart of all agreements since 1998, and the ACA’s to retain it.”CA has previously confirmed that players without contracts will not be eligible to receive back pay when a new MoU is eventually agreed,” a CA spokesman said. “CA will allocate on a fortnightly basis all of the money it would otherwise be paying to out of contract players to the National Community Facilities Funding Scheme (NCFFS). This is expected to be in the order of AUD 1.2 million per fortnight.”The NCFFS is an existing fund that supports the establishment of new and refurbished playing and training facilities at grassroots level across Australia… established in conjunction with State & Territory Cricket Associations in 2014 to support the establishment of new and refurbished playing and training facilities at grassroots level across Australia.”CA has utilised the NCFFS to partner with local councils, state and territory governments, and local cricket clubs to make a significant impact in the quality and provision of community cricket facilities. Since its establishment, Australian Cricket has invested AUD 4.5 million into 410 projects worth AUD 41.6 million, which have significantly enhanced cricket infrastructure across Australia and supported increased participation in cricket.”The announcement was accompanied by a lengthy argument against the ACA’s position. “A week ago CA offered significant concessions in an effort to reach an agreement by 30 June,” the spokesman said. “These were also rejected out of hand through the media – again without any discussion – by the ACA. Those concessions were a genuine attempt by CA to address key concerns raised by players, including the inclusion of all domestic players alongside internationals in the share of the game’s surplus.”Over the past months CA has repeatedly sought to engage with the ACA in a genuine dialogue and to commence a proper negotiation process. It is regrettable that these efforts have been rebuffed, resulting in the current situation which CA recognises is not in the interests of either the players or the game. CA is concerned that many players will be without a contract from midnight tonight and this may place significant financial and emotional strain on them and their families.”It is unfortunate that the ACA’s hard-line and inflexible position has not been conducive to delivering any positive outcomes or certainty for players. CA has also been dismayed that the ACA’s rhetoric, both publicly and directly to the players, has burdened the current generation of players with an unfair sense of responsibility for defending a decades old pay model that no longer suits the very different needs of the modern game. The existing revenue share model has achieved its purpose and was never intended to be an heirloom passed down over the decades, never to be changed.”The ACA’s executive and a range of players, both domestic and international, are set to meet in Sydney on Sunday to discuss further action. The Australian women’s team is currently in the middle of a World Cup campaign in England.The ACA’s president Greg Dyer said the expiry of the deadline was the result of CA’s obvious intent to avoid negotiations on any terms other than the board’s own. “Refusing offers of flexibility and to attend mediation says a lot,” Dyer said. “As does the refusal of the CA CEO to be involved. It says they weren’t fair dinkum. It has been a case of divide and rule from the start, and when that failed the threats started and haven’t stopped. All of which has failed.”It’s quite incredible. Reasonable young men and women have been set upon by their employer with tactics not seen before in Australian sport. So, given they will be unemployed, the players have to consider how best to respond.”The ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said the meeting with players on Sunday would address numerous issues, including the status of those players chosen for the forthcoming Australia A tour to South Africa. Players are meant to convene in Brisbane for a pre-tour camp on Monday.”Given CA’s negotiation strategy from day one of these negotiations, we have made plans for this possibility,” Nicholson said. “We are ready to roll-out support to the players who need it. We have set aside funds to help players who need to pay their bills. And The Cricketers’ Brand will now be sourcing sponsorships as well. The players also have some very important decisions to make. That’s why an emergency executive meeting has been called.”

Inter Miami have reportedly backed out of a January preseason friendly with Flamengo in favor of a match in the 'Middle East.'

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• Report says Miami cancels Flamengo friendly
• Herons accept Middle East proposal instead
• 'Last Dance' between Messi & Ronaldo could be back on

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Globo claim that the Herons are moving fast with their preseason plans. Despite previous uncertainty over whether or not Inter Miami would entertain friendly offers with Saudi Pro League clubs, it appears that the David Beckham-led club will now be flying across the world ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Flamengo, meanwhile, are scheduling a January contest with fellow Florida MLS side Orlando City following the apparent cancellation of their previously-arranged game.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Inter Miami have denied the agreement of any friendly against Al-Nassr after it was claimed that Miami would participate in a three-team tournament alongside Ronaldo's side and Al-Hilal. It now appears that the match could be back on.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi and Ronaldo have clashed a total of 36 times over their storied careers, with their first meeting coming in 2008. The Argentine leads the way between the two with 16 wins to Ronaldo's 11.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

  The club is currently in offseason mode, with the players enjoying their time away from the pitch while looking ahead to preseason in 2024. Although the schedule is not confirmed, it seems as though the Herons are looking to be ambitious ahead of their next campaign, with high-profile friendlies like these populating the rumor mill. Regardless of what happens, it's an important few months for Tata Martino and Co as they look to build on their Leagues Cup success.

Coach Russell Domingo also said that ODI captain AB de Villiers’ decision to opt out of Tests for South Africa has not affected the team adversely

Firdose Moonda13-Jun-2017AB de Villiers’ behind-the-scenes leadership skills are good enough to merit him continuing as ODI captain despite mounting calls for him to step aside. That was national head coach Russell Domingo’s endorsement of de Villiers, which added to a growing chorus from inside the team camp in support of the ODI captain following South Africa’s first-round exit from the Champions Trophy.”He has done a fantastic job as captain during this campaign. He leads from the front. I know there has been a lot of criticism about his leadership but a lot of it takes place behind closed doors, so what people see on the field, they will create their impressions from that. But the team and management all think he has done a wonderful job behind closed doors, in the preparation and lead-up to games,” Domingo said. “There’s a lot more that goes on than just making a bowling change. People can question his tactics, but there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is no right and wrong way in cricket. He has got to go with what he feels are the best decisions on the field and he has got to commit to that and that’s what he does.”De Villiers was appointed captain of the ODI and T20I sides in 2011, when Domingo began his work with the South African side. At the time, Domingo was Gary Kirsten’s assistant and two years later, he took over the main job only for de Villiers to hand the T20 reins to Faf du Plessis and set his sights on Test captaincy. Throughout that time, de Villiers was still said to be learning the leadership and slow over-rates, coupled with occasionally odd tactics, were proof of that. Domingo was among those who were patient with de Villiers’ schooling.When Graeme Smith stood down in March 2014, Hashim Amla was preferred over de Villiers but less than two years in, Amla did not want to do the job anymore. De Villiers captained two matches as interim skipper before being confirmed the permanent Test captain but never fulfilled the role after injury and then a Test hiatus kept him out of the whites.De Villiers’ absence from the longest format has now stretched to 18 months and could extend to as much as two years. He has opted out of Tests until the home series against India – dates have yet to be confirmed but it could start as late as January 2018 – to manage his workload ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England.Domingo on de Villiers’ choice to opt out of Tests: ‘By no means can we force players to play every single format’•Getty Images

De Villiers’ selective availability for South Africa – while still playing in tournaments such as the IPL – has not sat well with everyone, including former national batsman and current Cobras’ coach Ashwell Prince, who, in the aftermath of the Champions Trophy exit, tweeted: “Perhaps it’s time that @OfficialCSA dictates to players when they may have the honor of representing this country instead of other way round.”Asked whether de Villiers’ decision has affected the team, Domingo denied that it did. He said: “A lot of players have given up a certain format to focus on another one and that’s their choice. By no means can we force players to play every single format. You’ve obviously got to play them according to what they’re contributing in the particular formats and that’s what has happened. If he wants to just play one-dayers and T20s then that’s a decision he has got to live with and a decision he has got to make. You can’t force players to play every format if they are not committed.”Domingo went even further in his defence of de Villiers, pointing out that although de Villiers is not available for Tests, he has not missed any fifty-over cricket since recovering from elbow surgery early this year. After being unable to play against Australia at home last October, de Villiers returned against Sri Lanka, went to New Zealand and has now played in England, where he is also set to feature in three T20s ahead of the Tests. He is expected to play all of South Africa’s one-day series ahead of the World Cup.”He hasn’t sat out any one-day series where he hasn’t been injured. Whenever he has been fit, he has played one-day series. He’s sitting out Test cricket at the moment. His [lack of] Test cricket, in my opinion, would not be affecting his one-day cricket that much,” Domingo said. “So I can’t see the last time he missed a one-day series out of chance – it’s either been having a baby, or getting injured, and those are the main reasons. I wouldn’t say he has been picking and choosing one-day series.”

ESPNcricinfo previews the third T20I between England and South Africa at Cardiff

The Preview by Alan Gardner24-Jun-2017Match FactsJune 25, 2017
Start time 2.30pm local (1330 GMT)Andile Phehlukwayo sealed South Africa’s dramatic win in Taunton to level the series•Getty ImagesBig PictureIf the character and fortitude of the tourists were at all in question after their thumping in the first T20 (not to mention a dismal Champions Trophy), South Africa delivered an emphatic riposte in Taunton. Jason Roy’s dismissal for obstructing the field took the focus but the real story was of a tenacious fightback, inspired by a fired-up Chris Morris, to level the series at 1-1.England had appeared to be cruising to another comprehensive win, with Roy and Jonny Bairstow putting on a century stand for the second wicket – but, from needing 50 off 39 balls, they instead stuttered down a dead end as South Africa silenced a boisterous crowd enjoying their first sight of an England men’s international since 1983.AB de Villiers, South Africa’s stand-in captain, had demanded a response and his bowlers delivered, as Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dane Paterson successfully tied down a succession of new batsmen. Morris spoke afterwards of fronting up to justify wearing the shirt and his impassioned intervention as the match appeared to be slipping away may just have turned South Africa’s tour around.England could take plenty from the debut performance of Tom Curran, Roy’s return to form – his 67 ended a run of 10 international innings without a fifty – and the continued run-harvesting of Bairstow, but Eoin Morgan will have been disappointed to see another clutch moment go the opposition’s way. Liam Livingstone, another debutant, suffered a difficult baptism and he will hope to get a chance to prove his talent in the decider at Cardiff.There may not be much tangible resting on the final match – and England are set to bring in a couple more new faces having previously indicated they will blood all five uncapped players in the squad – but the result may take on greater significance for battles still to come.Form guideEngland LWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa WLWLLIn the spotlightThe rapid rise of Tom Curran looks set to continue after his impressive first outing in an England shirt. Already a senior member of the Surrey attack at the age of 22, Curran took to international cricket with aplomb, showing an extra lick of pace and good variety to pick up 3 for 33. On this evidence, certainly in white-ball cricket, there will be plenty more caps to come.David Miller is the second-most experienced member of the South Africa squad in T20 internationals and a player blessed with awesome ball-striking ability. He has had chances to shape both games so far but, apart from one effortless straight six in Southampton, the runs haven’t come. South Africa could do with him firing to improve their chances of an above-par score.Team newsBairstow has left the squad to head off on Yorkshire duty in the round of pink-ball Championship games, which should open up a spot for Dawid Malan to make his international debut. Craig Overton is the other uncapped man, with Chris Jordan perhaps likeliest to make way after an erratic performance, while Sam Billings could also be squeezed out as deputy opener by Alex Hales’ return.England (possible): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Liam Dawson, 8 David Willey, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Tom CurranSouth Africa found a better balance to their attack in Taunton, with Morris winning the Man-of-the-Match award. They could be unchanged, but for the temptation to bring back the No. 1-ranked T20 bowler, Imran Tahir.South Africa (possible): 1 JJ Smuts, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 AB de Villiers (capt), 4 David Miller, 5 Farhaan Berhardien, 6 Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), 7 Chris Morris, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dane Paterson, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi/Imran TahirPitch and conditionsEngland will return to the scene of their Champions Trophy semi-final defeat – hoping for a fresh surface this time. The short, straight boundaries at Cardiff often mitigate against spin, while a cool afternoon, with the chance of some rain early on, may assist the seamers.Stats and trivia England have previously played three T20 internationals at Cardiff, winning all of them. Only eight batsmen have been given out obstructing the field in international cricket – four of them since 2013.Quotes”The last couple of seasons I’ve bowled a lot of overs that may have limited my pace. But I think I may have gathered a yard. I’m getting stronger, I know my action and I’m developing.”
“First and foremost there’s that honour of playing for South Africa and the honour of playing international cricket. Not many people have ever lived the dream that we’re living. But there was a lot for Russell. He’s going through a really tough time … Coach, this one’s for you.”
Chris Morris dedicates South Africa’s Taunton win to absent coach Russell Domingo, who has returned home to be with his unwell mother

Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Fulham's free transfer bid to sign forward Manor Solomon following his impressive Craven Cottage loan spell, according to reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

Who will Spurs sign after Maddison?

Spurs, much to the delight of new manager Ange Postecoglou, have moved swiftly for some of their top targets in this last fortnight.

Guglielmo Vicario joins from Empoli to shore up their goalkeeping options, while chairman Daniel Levy also managed to sign playmaker James Maddison from Leicester City for £40m.

These two transfers, coupled with the permanent signing of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus, mark a solid start to this summer transfer window and reports suggest they're also after a star centre-half.

Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven and others have been linked with moves to north London while there is a belief that Postecoglou wishes to add attacking reinforcements as well.

The departures of both Arnaut Danjuma, who has returned to parent club Villarreal, and winger Lucas Moura on a Bosman have left Spurs slightly short of wide forwards.

As a result, the north Londoners are said to be keen on a move for Shakhtar Donetsk's Solomon, coming after a FIFA ruling allowed players to leave Ukraine freely amid the ongoing war with Russia.

The legislation allows Solomon to halt his contract, without approval from Shakhtar, and move wherever he pleases – meaning Tottenham can sign him for free.

As a result, The Evening Standard and Kinsella claim Spurs are "interested in hijacking" Fulham's "free transfer bid" for the Israel winger, as the Whites are also keen on him following his 2022/23 loan spell in west London.

While not much is added beyond that, it does appear Postecoglou and Levy are eyeing fresh faces in the forward areas.

Who is Manor Solomon?

Solomon scored in five straight games between February and March, bagging four overall in the league, with the 23-year-old impressing during his temporary Fulham spell last campaign.

The winger has also been heralded by sections of the Israeli press, as sports journalist Josh Halickman describes Solomon as an "exceptional athlete" and puts him up there with his country's most influential sportspeople of recent times.

Fulham boss Marco Silva also praised Solomon for his flair and capability in one-on-one situations.

"He has scored some important goals for us," said Silva.

"His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important."

Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to bring in Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella as a replacement for Ivan Perisic, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Fabrizio Romano reports that no decision has been made regarding Perisic's future at N17, however, there are question marks over whether the Croatia international will remain a Spurs player next season.

Destiny Udogie is set to be part of new manager Ange Postecoglou's plans, having spent last season on loan at Udinese, with the Australian recently making the decision to take the 20-year-old left-back on their pre-season tour of Thailand.

Udogie being handed a more prominent role in the squad could reduce Perisic's game time, and there have been reports that Daniel Levy could even end up terminating the 34-year-old's contract, amid interest from Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.

Bringing in at least one new centre-back appears to be the priority for Postecoglou, with Romano recently reporting that Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba remains Spurs' "top target", while they are also interested in signing Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven.

The new manager is also keen on strengthening the left side of his defence, with Football Transfers now reporting Tottenham are closely following the situation of Cucurella at Chelsea.

The Lilywhites are ready to bring the left-back in as a replacement for Perisic, and it could be a fairly easy transfer to orchestrate, as the Blues are desperate to get rid of him, although the type of fee they are set to demand is currently unclear.

Last summer, Chelsea paid £55m for the Spain international, and he is keen to remain at the club, but a move to Spurs could be an attractive proposition, given their status and location.

If Tottenham are able to sign the former Brighton & Hove Albion man, Postecoglou plans to play him alongside Yves Bissouma, as an inverted full-back, allowing his old teammate to push further up the pitch.

What positions can Marc Cucurella play?

The 24-year-old has predominantly featured in a left wing-back role throughout his career so far, however, he has also featured slightly further forward at left-wing, as well as at centre-back on occasions.

Hailed as "brilliant" by Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, the defender was one of Brighton's top performers in the 2021/22 campaign, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.11, the third-highest figure in the squad.

While the Spaniard has not gotten off to the best of starts at Chelsea, coming under plenty of criticism from fans and the media alike last season, there were some promising signs, with UEFA's Technical Observer Panel praising him after the Blues' victory against Borussia Dortmund, saying:

“Cucurella was fantastic, claiming numerous turnovers in the first half and reading the game intelligently as well as showing aerial strength and an accuracy of distribution which underpinned the victory for Chelsea.”

Cucurella ranks highly for some key metrics over the past year, including tackling, placing him in the 97th percentile for tackles per 90, when compared to his positional peers, and if he is able to reignite his form from his time with Brighton, he could be a solid signing for Spurs.

All three of Luis Enrique's starting forward line found the net as his team found breathing room in the title race

Luis Enrique has probably been waiting ages for this moment. The Parisians, and their expensive, reworked attacking line, haven't quite pieced a performance together going forward. But on Friday, they did just that — and reaped the rewards. Ousmane Dembele got his first goal in PSG colors, while Kylian Mbappe and Goncalo Ramos also found the scoresheet, as the Parisians saw off title rivals Monaco, 5-2, in a thrilling encounter.

PSG had the most obvious chance of the early goings, but Mbappe's curled effort was turned around the post by Philipp Kohn. Monaco had a clear look of their own shortly after when Gianluigi Donnarumma tipped a header over the bar. Those early events gave way to a chaotic contest.

Ramos was first, latching onto a blunder from Kohn to finish into an empty net. Donnarumma followed with a mistake of his own, giving the ball away to Takumi Minamino, before failing to deny his saveable shot — handing Monaco a well-deserved equaliser. And then, the inevitable Mbappe goal came. This time, it was from the penalty spot, a clumsy challenge giving the captain a chance from 12 yards — which he comfortably dispatched.

PSG only needed two minutes to kill the game. After struggling for the opening part of the second half, a duo of quick breaks sealed the win. Dembele started it, darting down the wing and producing a sublime first touch before burying his first goal in a PSG shirt. And Vitinha sealed it, unleashing a fine curled strike that left Kohn rooted to the ground as it curled into the far corner.

Folarin Balogun bagged a lovely second for the visitors, but a late fifth from Randal Kolo Muani quelled any chances of a Monaco comeback.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Parc des Princes…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

Made a handful of excellent saves, but also gave a goal away — which is kind of his thing these days

Achraf Hakimi (6/10):

Dangerous on the right side of the pitch, but was caught lacking defensively at times.

Milan Skriniar (6/10):

A real mixed bag. Was poor on Balogun's goal, and could have offered more on the Monaco first. But he also won some important headers, and handled Balogun well.

Lucas Hernandez 5/10):

Not his best game. Solid in possession, but Minamino gave him a headache throughout.

Nordi Mukiele (6/10):

Another solid showing on his weaker left side. Good to see the Frenchman getting minutes after enduring an injury-interrupted first campaign in the capital.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Manuel Ugarte (7/10):

Impressive at the base of midfield. Clearly loves a tackle, and is always improving in his distribution. Looks like a top signing.

Fabian Ruiz (6/10):

Tidy without being inspirational in central midfield. Looks like he will be given more minutes with Warren Zaire-Emery out.

Vitinha (7/10):

Scored a wonderful fourth to cap off a solid performance. He's found his best under the new manager.

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Ousmane Dembele (7/10):

Excellent in transition, dangerous on the ball. Wasteful until he battered one into the net to give his side a 3-1 lead. Do that more, and he will be among Europe's best.

Goncalo Ramos (6/10):

Grabbed a goal, showing good striker's instinct to pounce on a mistake. He needs to do it more.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

A constant threat. Was never going to miss from the penalty spot. Some slick interchanges created problems, and he was as direct as ever.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Bradley Barcola (6/10):

A lively cameo from a player who perhaps deserves more minutes.

Randal Kolo Muani (6/10):

A bit sluggish off the bench, until he scored a late goal.

Carlos Soler (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Luis Enrique (8/10):

A few injuries limited his selection options, but he still fielded a strong side. His 4-3-3 worked well for the most part, and his side found a real attacking groove. A big win.